Scottish Executive

Autism

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what funding has been provided to the Scottish Society for Autism in each of the last five years; what plans it has to provide future funding to continue and improve services for families affected by autistic spectrum disorder and what funding it plans to provide to ensure the continued existence of the society and its staff post based in Inverness beyond September 2001.

Malcolm Chisholm: The Scottish Society for Autism was awarded a total of £129,285 through the Special Educational Needs Innovation Grants Programme for two projects:

  A Social Inclusion Partnership Project, from April 1999 to March 2002

  A Positive Interaction Video, from September 2000 to March 2001

  The society received a social work training grant of £28,000 in 1996-97 and 1997-98 and £26,000 in each of the three financial years 1998-99 to 2000-01.

  In addition, an offer of a grant of £16,400 was made to the society on 16 March 2001, to conduct a mapping exercise to help prepare for the national network for people with an autistic spectrum disorder as recommended in The same as you? report.

  Following the learning disabilities review, we are providing additional funds of £36 million over three years, starting in April 2001, to improve services for people learning disabilities. This will benefit, amongst others, families affected by autistic spectrum disorder.

Autism

Mr Lloyd Quinan (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what responsibilities local authorities have in relation to the continuing care of those young people with autistic spectrum disorders who are being educated in residential establishments once they are beyond the school leaving age.

Nicol Stephen: If the young people are looked after by local authorities in terms of the Children (Scotland) Act 1995, the authorities retain a duty to support them until they reach the age of 18 years and a power to do so until aged 21 or until any full-time educational course is completed.

  If a Record of Needs is already open for a child on his or her 16th birthday, then the local authority is required to continue to maintain it, and to review it (and the Future Needs Assessment report when appropriate) while the child remains in school education.

  For all other young people, the precise responsibilities of authorities will depend on individual circumstances. In addition, under the Social Work (Scotland) Act 1968, local authorities have a statutory requirement to assess the need for community care services of any persons who appear to them to require such services and to decide, in the light of the assessment, whether they should arrange any services. The transition between children’s and adult services is a key priority for local authorities, working in partnership with health and education services.

Children with Special Needs

Mrs Mary Mulligan (Linlithgow) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what measures it is taking to ensure that the specific needs of children with acquired brain injury are met across the education, health and social work sectors.

Nicol Stephen: The specific care and support needs of children with acquired brain injury will be met from a range of primary, secondary and specialist services, including health professionals, rehabilitation specialists and learning disability specialists.

  Education authorities have a duty to ensure that the special educational needs of all children are met. In order to meet this duty, education authorities should liaise with a range of appropriate professionals from the health and social work sectors.

  Scottish Executive guidance is currently being produced for distribution to all local authorities on the special arrangements for children who are unable to attend school due to prolonged ill-health and the subsequent arrangements required on return to school.

Constitution

Linda Fabiani (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what its responsibilities are in relation to constitutional policy and whether any of its staff are involved in planning for possible future constitutional changes.

Mr Tom McCabe: Certain aspects of the constitution are reserved matters, in particular the Crown, the Union of the Kingdoms of Scotland and England, the Parliament of the United Kingdom and the continued existence of the Court of Session as a civil court of first instance and of appeal. The Executive has no responsibility for these matters. The Executive maintains regular contacts with the other devolved administrations and the UK Government on the operation of the devolution settlement. Six staff work in the Constitutional Policy Unit on a range of issues relating to the operation of the Scotland Act and the devolution settlement, including training, advice and guidance; relations with the UK Government and the other devolved administrations, and the preparation of subordinate legislation under the Scotland Act.

Crime

Phil Gallie (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what proportion of retail crime is considered to be drug related.

Iain Gray: Estimates of the level of offending by drug misusers are available from a study of the piloting of drug testing published by the Scottish Executive’s Central Research Unit ( Interviewing and Drug Testing of Arrestees in Scotland , McKeganey et al). A copy of the report is in the Parliament’s Reference Centre but, based on information provided by interviews, it suggested that around 87% of arrestees who were currently injecting drugs had stolen from shops in the past 12 months, as compared with 57% of non-injecting drug users and 32% of arrestees who had not used drugs in the past 12 months. The Scottish Executive does not, however, hold information on the proportion of retail crime that is considered to be drug related.

Diabetes

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what research is being carried out in relation to diabetes, with particular regard to how to prevent people from being in an "at risk" group.

Susan Deacon: The Chief Scientist Office (CSO) is currently funding six projects related to diabetes. Two of these are looking at potential risk factors: "The influence of pre-natal growth, genetic and socio-economic factors on risk factors for coronary heart disease, hypertension and non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus: a study in adult twins" and "Early life origins of cardiovascular disease and insulin resistance syndrome: follow up of children born to women in controlled trials of weight manipulation during pregnancy".

Digital Scotland Task Force

Mr Kenny MacAskill (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what progress has been made to date on the work of the Digital Scotland Task Force and whether it will detail any timetable for the completion of this work.

Ms Wendy Alexander: The Digital Scotland Task Force completed its work in May 2000 when it published its report. This report was published on the web for public consultation. Following the consultation exercise the Executive’s response to the report was published in September 2000. These can be found on the web at:

  www.scotland.gov.uk/digitalscotland/report.htm.

  The Executive is taking forward action in two linked streams: 21st Century Government and Digital Scotland, the latter addressing issues of infrastructure and digital inclusion.

Digital Scotland Task Force

Mr Kenny MacAskill (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what methodology is in place to monitor the progress of the Digital Scotland Task Force.

Ms Wendy Alexander: I refer the member to the answers given to questions S1W-14184 and S1W-14186.

Digital Scotland Task Force

Mr Kenny MacAskill (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive who the members of the Digital Scotland Task Force are; what qualifications and experience each member has, and what criteria were used to appoint these members.

Ms Wendy Alexander: The Digital Scotland Task Force was created to enable the Executive to draw on expertise and experience from across the Scottish community, with members drawn from the private sector, local government and the education sectors. The task force was chaired by Peter Peacock, the then Deputy Minister for Children and Education.

  The Digital Scotland Taskforce completed its work in May 2000 when it published its report. The report along with a list of who the members were, is available on the web at:

  www.scotland.gov.uk/digitalscotland/report.htm

Enterprise

Robert Brown (Glasgow) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has made any representations to Her Majesty’s Government regarding the developing shortfall in orders to BAe Systems Scotstoun.

Ms Wendy Alexander: The Scottish Executive is in regular contact with the UK Government on a wide range of issues, including Ministry of Defence contracts.

Excellence Fund

Donald Gorrie (Central Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what arrangements it has made to sustain successful projects funded from the Excellence Fund should that source of funding end.

Mr Jack McConnell: The Excellence Fund, as currently constituted, covers the three-year period which ends in March 2002. It funds a number of important initiatives which contribute to our overall objectives of raising standards in schools and promoting social inclusion. We are reviewing the scope and operation of the Excellence Fund and will fully involve COSLA in that process. That review will include consideration of the measures which may be necessary to support beyond March 2002 those elements of the current Excellence Fund which may need to be continued and whether they are funded locally or nationally.

Finance

Andrew Wilson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with Her Majesty’s Treasury regarding the categories of comparable expenditure which will be used in assessing the annual changes in funding to accommodate capital charge payments from the Scottish budget.

Angus MacKay: Capital charges are currently classified as Annually Managed Expenditure (AME). The main component of AME comprises the Resource Accounting and Budgeting (RAB) adjustments such as capital charges, etc. AME is not subject to the Barnett formula and funding is agreed annually in discussion with HM Treasury.

Foot-and-Mouth Disease

Dr Elaine Murray (Dumfries) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how it will support businesses affected by the outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease.

Ms Wendy Alexander: Following extensive consultation with the industry affected, the Executive has decided to put resources behind a three-part emergency package of assistance for 2001-02 to help stabilise businesses in Scotland hit by the foot-and-mouth disease outbreak. This is in addition to the commitments already provided by the UK Government.

  The additional Scottish emergency package consists of:

  First, a range of measures to help affected businesses with their rates will be available, initially estimated to be worth £3.5 million. The Scottish Executive will fund 95% of the cost of hardship relief for the most affected businesses. The funding will be available for businesses with a rateable value up to £12,000 in rural local authority areas. For other businesses we will fund 75% of the costs of hardship relief. We are encouraging local authorities to consider deferring rates payments for affected businesses. Local authorities can grant relief for premises which are not in use because of the foot-and-mouth disease outbreak. Businesses can also apply for a reduction in their rateable value.

  Secondly, an initial £5 million will be made available now for visitscotland to tackle the misconceptions in key markets about the outbreak, build on the framework provided by the Comeback Code published on Friday 23 March, and to bring forward a range of other measures including support for local marketing initiatives. visitscotland will work closely with the British Tourist Authority to achieve the maximum benefit for Scotland from the work which they are doing around the world to put the facts across. Further support for a longer term recovery plan will be available.

  Thirdly, a £5 million immediate boost for the Enterprise Networks to provide emergency advice and assistance to affected businesses to support survival workshops, one-to-one counselling, assistance on minimising liabilities and access to other sources of support such as the banks, the Inland Revenue and the Customs and Excise.

  The Executive is particularly conscious of the severity of the impact in Dumfries and Galloway and will discuss with the Enterprise Networks and visitscotland ways of ensuring that the help gets to those who need it most.

  This £13.5 million emergency package adds to the measures announced by the UK Government on 20 March, which include:

  1. Request from ministers to Inland Revenue and Customs officials to take a very sympathetic approach to businesses experiencing financial problems as a result of the outbreak. The Revenue Departments already have power in specific circumstances to defer payment of taxes and National Insurance contributions and agree extended arrangements for time to pay. They will make maximum use of this flexibility for agricultural, transport, tourism and related retail businesses in the countryside that cannot pay debts because of cash flow problems, where cash flow assistance through rescheduling tax or NIC liabilities would help.

  2. Discussions with the banks to ensure continuing credit for small businesses badly affected by the impact of foot-and-mouth disease, including the use of the Small Firms Loan Guarantee Fund.

  3. Indication from the Benefits Agency that Job Seekers Allowance may be available to both employees and self-employed people, out of work as a result of foot-and-mouth disease, and the Department of Social Security will be making their procedures as fast and flexible as possible.

  This represents a comprehensive plan of action to tackle the immediate difficulties facing Scottish businesses. The Executive is also engaging in developing plans for longer-term recovery and to build a way forward from the present difficulties.

Forestry

Alasdair Morgan (Galloway and Upper Nithsdale) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will list all sales of Forestry Commission Land since 1 January 1999, showing the location, acreage and selling price in each case.

Rhona Brankin: The table gives details of all the forest land (i.e. the forests, woods, associated unplanted land and land originally acquired for planting) that was sold by the Forestry Commission between 1 January 1999 and 31 December 2000, the latest date for which information is available. The table gives the name, location and area of each sale. In each case, the commission sought the purchaser’s permission to disclose the price paid, and this is included whenever such permission was given.

  


Location and Name of Wood 
  

Area (hectares) 
  

Sale Price (£) 
  



Aberdeenshire 
  



Haremoss 
  

21.0 
  

21,650 
  



New Pitsligo Lot 11 (part) 
  

2.0 
  






New Pitsligo Lot 2 
  

17.0 
  

11,250 
  



Peelie Belt, Glassel 
  

2.0 
  

6,000 
  



Argyll and Bute 
  



Bullwood Quarry 
  

6.1 
  






Drimsynie Leisure Centre (adjacent plantation) 
  

19.8 
  

28,000 
  



Glenfinart (land at) 
  

13.9 
  






Kinloch Plantation (formerly Carsaig) 
  

488.0 
  

455,000 
  



Scoor Plantation Lot 5 
  

360.0 
  

220,000 
  



Stronhullin (land at) 
  

26.4 
  






Clackmannanshire 
  



Aberdona and Meeks Park 
  

48.0 
  

78,112 
  



Dumfries and Galloway 
  



Bargatton Package 
  

125.0 
  






Bargrug 
  

9.0 
  






Barnbarroch 
  

62.0 
  






Beattock (M74) 
  

33.5 
  






Beuchan 
  

102.0 
  

143,110 
  



Blacklaw (land at) 
  

0.5 
  






Carsduchan 
  

48.0 
  






Carsewood 
  

12.0 
  






Clauchrie 
  

89.2 
  

115,323 
  



Dalshangan 
  

20.0 
  

35,111 
  



Docherneil 
  

82.5 
  






Glenling 
  

4.0 
  






Littleclyde (M74) 
  

0.2 
  






Livingstone Hill Block 
  

51.8 
  

75,749 
  



Lochbank 
  

24.0 
  






May 
  

71.0 
  

60,000 
  



Mountainblaw 
  

11.0 
  






Plascow/Ryes Boundary 
  

1.3 
  






Polmoodie 
  

302.0 
  






Priestside Flow 
  

75.0 
  






Warren 
  

101.0 
  

211,025 
  



East Ayrshire 
  



Penkill 
  

26.0 
  

15,250 
  



Fife 
  



Bogside Devilla 
  

12.0 
  






Highland 
  



Achendounie Wood 
  

44.0 
  

77,777 
  



Achnashellach Station (land at) 
  

0.7 
  

2,000 
  



Brunery Wood 
  

47.9 
  

20,000 
  



Carbisdale Castle Excambion 
  

0.2 
  






Culloden Housing Site 
  

10.0 
  

340,000 
  



Dunvegan Woodlands 
  

63.0 
  






Foyers Radio Station Site 
  

0.0 
  






Fryster Plantation 
  

13.0 
  






Garynahine Plantation 
  

213.0 
  






Gledfield to Braelangwell Road Improvement 
  

3.8 
  






Glenkingie 
  

403.0 
  

115,000 
  



Glenmore and Mugeary 
  

169.0 
  






Helshetter Plantation 
  

27.0 
  






Lochaber Rural Complex Site 
  

9.6 
  

25,000 
  



Orbost Plantation (exchange) 
  

575.0 
  

33,755 
  



Sheep Pass Wood 
  

277.2 
  

25,500 
  



Suardal Plantation 
  

150.0 
  

68,800 
  



Perth and Kinross 
  



Blackhill and Cleish 
  

109.5 
  

225,000 
  



Drumtenant Strip 
  

4.1 
  

3,000 
  



High Wood 
  

53.0 
  






Long 
  

80.0 
  






Warroch 
  

116.5 
  






Scottish Borders 
  



Black/White Hill 
  

34.0 
  






Blinkbonny 
  

30.0 
  






Brundeanlaws 
  

79.0 
  






Elibank Road (land at) 
  

1.3 
  






Glenlude 
  

76.0 
  






Lumsdaine 
  

5.0 
  






Quarter Wood 
  

30.0 
  






Soutra 
  

152.5 
  

87,500 
  



Thorlieshope 
  

185.0 
  

279,700 
  



South Ayrshire 
  



Knockycoid (land adjoining) 
  

0.1 
  

500 
  



Stirling 
  



Ardeonaig Plantation 
  

45.0 
  






Ardveich 
  

59.0 
  






Auchraw 
  

90.0 
  






Balanton 
  

4.6 
  






Gartochorrans 
  

199.0 
  






North Earn Wood 
  

6.2

Freedom of Information Bill

David Mundell (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it intends to make extra funding available to local authorities to help cover the costs of adopting and maintaining schemes for the publication of information if its draft Freedom of Information Bill becomes law.

Mr Jim Wallace: No. As many Scottish public authorities, including local authorities, already handle requests for information and publish routinely a wide range of other information, and as model publication schemes, prepared either by the Scottish Information Commissioner or by third parties, will be available to assist public authorities, we would expect any additional costs which might be incurred to be borne within planned resources.

Government Services

David Mundell (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive which local authorities will be represented at next month’s Promoting Electronic Government Conference in Birmingham.

Angus MacKay: Promoting Electronic Government (PEG) is a two-year Invest To Save project sponsored through the Department of the Environment and the Region’s (DETR) Local Government Directorate. It aims to provide local authorities in England and Wales with support in building a body of good practice data.

  The majority of the representation at the conference will be from local authorities in England and Wales. To date some 140 delegates have registered from 60 local authorities. The conference organiser will supply the Executive with the details of all local authorities represented when the information is known.

  Scottish local authorities who have expressed an interest in attending are City of Edinburgh, Fife, Angus and South Ayrshire. The Executive has also been invited to send along an official observer.

Health

Ben Wallace (North-East Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will list by name the 200 one-stop clinics referred to on page 46 of Our National Health: A plan for action, a plan for change .

Susan Deacon: Details of the one-stop clinics operated by NHSScotland are given in the table.

  


No. 
  

Service 
  

Location 
  

NHS Trust 
  



1 
  

Diabetes 
  

Raigmore Hospital 
  

Highland Acute Hospitals NHS Trust 
  



2 
  

Breast Clinic 
  

Victoria Infirmary 
  

South Glasgow University Hospitals NHS Trust 
  



3 
  

Chest Pain 
  

Victoria Infirmary 
  

South Glasgow University Hospitals NHS Trust 
  



4 
  

Rectal Bleeding 
  

Southern General Hospital 
  

South Glasgow University Hospitals NHS Trust 
  



5 
  

GU Medicine 
  

Southern General Hospital 
  

South Glasgow University Hospitals NHS Trust 
  



6 
  

Urology 
  

Southern General Hospital 
  

South Glasgow University Hospitals NHS Trust 
  



7 
  

Vascular 
  

Southern General Hospital 
  

South Glasgow University Hospitals NHS Trust 
  



8 
  

Orthopaedics Injections 
  

Southern General Hospital 
  

South Glasgow University Hospitals NHS Trust 
  



9 
  

Breast Clinic 
  

Monklands General Hospital 
  

Lanarkshire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust 
  



10 
  

Haematuria 
  

Monklands General Hospital 
  

Lanarkshire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust 
  



11 
  

Chest Pain 
  

Monklands General Hospital 
  

Lanarkshire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust 
  



12 
  

Diabetic/Obstetric 
  

Bellshill Hospital 
  

Lanarkshire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust 
  



13 
  

Diabetic Problem 
  

Monklands General Hospital 
  

Lanarkshire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust 
  



14 
  

Diabetic Annual Review 
  

Monklands General Hospital 
  

Lanarkshire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust 
  



15 
  

Haematuria 
  

Law Hospital 
  

Lanarkshire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust 
  



16 
  

Rectal Bleeding 
  

Law Hospital 
  

Lanarkshire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust 
  



17 
  

Foot Clinic 
  

Law Hospital 
  

Lanarkshire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust 
  



18 
  

Haematuria 
  

Hairmyres Hospital 
  

Lanarkshire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust 
  



19 
  

Prostate Assessment 
  

Hairmyres Hospital 
  

Lanarkshire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust 
  



20 
  

Hysterectomy Clinic 
  

Hairmyres Hospital 
  

Lanarkshire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust 
  



21 
  

Early Pregnancy Assessment 
  

Hairmyres Hospital 
  

Lanarkshire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust 
  



22 
  

Diabetic Screening 
  

Stonehouse Hospital 
  

Lanarkshire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust 
  



23 
  

Breast Clinic 
  

Ninewells Hospital 
  

Tayside University Hospitals NHS Trust 
  



24 
  

Breast Clinic 
  

Perth Royal Infirmary 
  

Tayside University Hospitals NHS Trust 
  



25 
  

Plastic Surgery 
  

Brechin 
  

Tayside University Hospitals NHS Trust 
  



26 
  

Ophthalmology 
  

Ninewells Hospital 
  

Tayside University Hospitals NHS Trust 
  



27 
  

Immunisation Clinic 
  

Royal Hospital for Sick Children 
  

Yorkhill NHS Trust 
  



28 
  

Dermatology 
  

Royal Hospital for Sick Children 
  

Yorkhill NHS Trust 
  



29 
  

Cardiology 
  

Royal Hospital for Sick Children 
  

Yorkhill NHS Trust 
  



30 
  

Breast Clinic 
  

Vale of Leven Hospital 
  

Argyll and Clyde Acute Hospitals NHS Trust 
  



31 
  

Chest Pain 
  

Vale of Leven Hospital 
  

Argyll and Clyde Acute Hospitals NHS Trust 
  



32 
  

Breast Clinic 
  

Inverclyde Royal Hospital 
  

Argyll and Clyde Acute Hospitals NHS Trust 
  



33 
  

Diabetes 
  

Inverclyde Royal Hospital 
  

Argyll and Clyde Acute Hospitals NHS Trust 
  



34 
  

Genito-Urinary Medicine 
  

Inverclyde Royal Hospital 
  

Argyll and Clyde Acute Hospitals NHS Trust 
  



35 
  

Rheumatology 
  

Inverclyde Royal Hospital 
  

Argyll and Clyde Acute Hospitals NHS Trust 
  



36 
  

UroGynae Clinic 
  

Inverclyde Royal Hospital 
  

Argyll and Clyde Acute Hospitals NHS Trust 
  



37 
  

Breast Clinic 
  

Royal Alexandra Hospital 
  

Argyll and Clyde Acute Hospitals NHS Trust 
  



38 
  

Cardiology 
  

Royal Alexandra Hospital 
  

Argyll and Clyde Acute Hospitals NHS Trust 
  



39 
  

Early Pregnancy 
  

Royal Alexandra Hospital 
  

Argyll and Clyde Acute Hospitals NHS Trust 
  



40 
  

Hysteroscopy 
  

Royal Alexandra Hospital 
  

Argyll and Clyde Acute Hospitals NHS Trust 
  



41 
  

Cataracts 
  

Ayr Hospital 
  

Ayrshire & Arran Acute Hospitals NHS Trust 
  



42 
  

Hand Diagnostic/Treatment 
  

Ayr Hospital 
  

Ayrshire & Arran Acute Hospitals NHS Trust 
  



43 
  

Hand Rehabilitation 
  

Ayr Hospital 
  

Ayrshire & Arran Acute Hospitals NHS Trust 
  



44 
  

Orthopaedic Diagnostic/Rehabilitation 
  

Ayr Hospital 
  

Ayrshire & Arran Acute Hospitals NHS Trust 
  



45 
  

Minor Surgery 
  

Ballochmyle Hospital 
  

Ayrshire & Arran Acute Hospitals NHS Trust 
  



46 
  

Early Pregnancy Assessment 
  

Ayrshire Central Hospital 
  

Ayrshire & Arran Acute Hospitals NHS Trust 
  



47 
  

Endometrial Assessment 
  

Crosshouse Hospital 
  

Ayrshire & Arran Acute Hospitals NHS Trust 
  



48 
  

Minor Surgery 
  

Crosshouse Hospital 
  

Ayrshire & Arran Acute Hospitals NHS Trust 
  



49 
  

Neck Lump 
  

Crosshouse Hospital 
  

Ayrshire & Arran Acute Hospitals NHS Trust 
  



50 
  

Colorectal Cancer 
  

Crosshouse Hospital 
  

Ayrshire & Arran Acute Hospitals NHS Trust 
  



51 
  

Needle Exchange 
  

Bentick Centre, Kilmarnock 
  

Ayrshire & Arran Primary Care NHS Trust 
  



52 
  

HIV/HEPC 
  

Bentick Centre, Kilmarnock 
  

Ayrshire & Arran Primary Care NHS Trust 
  



53 
  

Genito-Urinary Medicine 
  

Old Irvine Road, Kilmarnock 
  

Ayrshire & Arran Primary Care NHS Trust 
  



54 
  

Genito-Urinary Medicine 
  

Ayrshire Central Hospital 
  

Ayrshire & Arran Primary Care NHS Trust 
  



55 
  

Genito-Urinary Medicine 
  

Heathfield, Ayr 
  

Ayrshire & Arran Primary Care NHS Trust 
  



56 
  

Breast Clinic 
  

Dumfries & Galloway Royal Infirmary 
  

Dumfries & Galloway Acute Hospitals NHS Trust 
  



57 
  

Diabetes 
  

Dumfries & Galloway Royal Infirmary 
  

Dumfries & Galloway Acute Hospitals NHS Trust 
  



58 
  

Baby Hip (For Developmental Dysphasia) 
  

Dumfries & Galloway Royal Infirmary 
  

Dumfries & Galloway Acute Hospitals NHS Trust 
  



59 
  

Prostate Assessment 
  

Dumfries & Galloway Royal Infirmary 
  

Dumfries & Galloway Acute Hospitals NHS Trust 
  



60 
  

Haematurial Diagnosis 
  

Dumfries & Galloway Royal Infirmary 
  

Dumfries & Galloway Acute Hospitals NHS Trust 
  



61 
  

Dermatology 
  

Dumfries & Galloway Royal Infirmary 
  

Dumfries & Galloway Acute Hospitals NHS Trust 
  



62 
  

Dermatology 
  

Newton Stewart 
  

Dumfries & Galloway Acute Hospitals NHS Trust 
  



63 
  

Dermatology 
  

Stranraer 
  

Dumfries & Galloway Acute Hospitals NHS Trust 
  



64 
  

Breast Clinic 
  

Glasgow Royal Infirmary 
  

North Glasgow University Hospitals NHS Trust 
  



65 
  

Chest Pain 
  

Glasgow Royal Infirmary 
  

North Glasgow University Hospitals NHS Trust 
  



66 
  

Colorectal Cancer 
  

Glasgow Royal Infirmary 
  

North Glasgow University Hospitals NHS Trust 
  



67 
  

Colposcopy 
  

Glasgow Royal Infirmary 
  

North Glasgow University Hospitals NHS Trust 
  



68 
  

Dermatology 
  

Glasgow Royal Infirmary 
  

North Glasgow University Hospitals NHS Trust 
  



69 
  

ENT - Head & Neck 
  

Glasgow Royal Infirmary 
  

North Glasgow University Hospitals NHS Trust 
  



70 
  

ENT - tonsils 
  

Glasgow Royal Infirmary 
  

North Glasgow University Hospitals NHS Trust 
  



71 
  

Genito-Urinary Medicine 
  

Glasgow Royal Infirmary 
  

Greater Glasgow Primary Care NHS Trust 
  



72 
  

Prostate Assessment 
  

Glasgow Royal Infirmary 
  

North Glasgow University Hospitals NHS Trust 
  



73 
  

Stroke 
  

Glasgow Royal Infirmary 
  

North Glasgow University Hospitals NHS Trust 
  



74 
  

TB 
  

Glasgow Royal Infirmary 
  

North Glasgow University Hospitals NHS Trust 
  



75 
  

Urology (Haematuria) 
  

Glasgow Royal Infirmary 
  

North Glasgow University Hospitals NHS Trust 
  



76 
  

Endoscopy 
  

Glasgow Royal Infirmary 
  

North Glasgow University Hospitals NHS Trust 
  



77 
  

Diabetes 
  

Glasgow Royal Infirmary 
  

North Glasgow University Hospitals NHS Trust 
  



78 
  

Testicular Pain 
  

Glasgow Royal Infirmary 
  

North Glasgow University Hospitals NHS Trust 
  



79 
  

Breast Clinic 
  

Stobhill Hospital 
  

North Glasgow University Hospitals NHS Trust 
  



80 
  

Chest Pain 
  

Stobhill Hospital 
  

North Glasgow University Hospitals NHS Trust 
  



81 
  

Breast Clinic 
  

Western Infirmary 
  

North Glasgow University Hospitals NHS Trust 
  



82 
  

Gynaecology 
  

Western Infirmary 
  

North Glasgow University Hospitals NHS Trust 
  



83 
  

Urology 
  

Western Infirmary 
  

North Glasgow University Hospitals NHS Trust 
  



84 
  

Travel Clinic 
  

Gartnavel Hospital 
  

North Glasgow University Hospitals NHS Trust 
  



85 
  

Counselling Advice 
  

Gartnavel Hospital 
  

North Glasgow University Hospitals NHS Trust 
  



86 
  

Cardiovascular Risk 
  

Gartnavel Hospital 
  

North Glasgow University Hospitals NHS Trust 
  



87 
  

Stroke/TIA 
  

Gartnavel Hospital 
  

North Glasgow University Hospitals NHS Trust 
  



88 
  

Breast Clinic 
  

Queen Margaret Hospital 
  

Fife Acute Hospitals NHS Trust 
  



89 
  

Anaesthesia Assessment Clinic 
  

Queen Margaret Hospital 
  

Fife Acute Hospitals NHS Trust 
  



90 
  

Cardiology 
  

Queen Margaret Hospital 
  

Fife Acute Hospitals NHS Trust 
  



91 
  

Cardiology 
  

Victoria Hospital 
  

Fife Acute Hospitals NHS Trust 
  



92 
  

Chest Pain 
  

Stirling Royal Infirmary 
  

Forth Valley Acute Hospitals NHS Trust 
  



93 
  

TIA 
  

Falkirk Royal Infirmary 
  

Forth Valley Acute Hospitals NHS Trust 
  



94 
  

Breast Clinic 
  

Falkirk Royal Infirmary 
  

Forth Valley Acute Hospitals NHS Trust 
  



95 
  

Breast Clinic 
  

Stirling Royal Infirmary 
  

Forth Valley Acute Hospitals NHS Trust 
  



96 
  

Urology 
  

Falkirk Royal Infirmary 
  

Forth Valley Acute Hospitals NHS Trust 
  



97 
  

Endoscopy 
  

Falkirk Royal Infirmary 
  

Forth Valley Acute Hospitals NHS Trust 
  



98 
  

Breast Clinic 
  

Aberdeen Royal Infirmary 
  

Grampian University Hospitals NHS Trust 
  



99 
  

Early Pregnancy Assessment 
  

Aberdeen Royal Infirmary 
  

Grampian University Hospitals NHS Trust 
  



100 
  

Diabetes 
  

Aberdeen Royal Infirmary 
  

Grampian University Hospitals NHS Trust 
  



101 
  

Bone Clinic 
  

Woolmanhill Hospital 
  

Grampian University Hospitals NHS Trust 
  



102 
  

Neurovascular Clinic 
  

Aberdeen Royal Infirmary 
  

Grampian University Hospitals NHS Trust 
  



103 
  

Stroke Prevention 
  

Aberdeen Royal Infirmary 
  

Grampian University Hospitals NHS Trust 
  



104 
  

Cardiac New Patients Clinic 
  

Aberdeen Royal Infirmary 
  

Grampian University Hospitals NHS Trust 
  



105 
  

Chest Pain 
  

Aberdeen Royal Infirmary 
  

Grampian University Hospitals NHS Trust 
  



106 
  

Heart Failure 
  

Aberdeen Royal Infirmary 
  

Grampian University Hospitals NHS Trust 
  



107 
  

Ante Natal 
  

Aberdeen Maternity Hospital 
  

Grampian University Hospitals NHS Trust 
  



108 
  

Termination Of Pregnancy 
  

Aberdeen Maternity Hospital 
  

Grampian University Hospitals NHS Trust 
  



109 
  

Breast Clinic 
  

Western General Hospital 
  

Lothian University Hospitals NHS Trust 
  



110 
  

Cardiology 
  

Edinburgh Royal Infirmary 
  

Lothian University Hospitals NHS Trust 
  



111 
  

Rapid Access Chest Pain 
  

Western General Hospital 
  

Lothian University Hospitals NHS Trust 
  



112 
  

Respiratory 
  

Edinburgh Royal Infirmary 
  

Lothian University Hospitals NHS Trust 
  



113 
  

Prostate Assessment 
  

Perth Royal Infirmary 
  

Tayside University Hospitals NHS Trust 
  



114 
  

Prostate Assessment 
  

Kinross 
  

Tayside University Hospitals NHS Trust 
  



115 
  

Prostate Assessment 
  

Blairgowrie 
  

Tayside University Hospitals NHS Trust 
  



116 
  

Prostate Assessment 
  

Auchterarder 
  

Tayside University Hospitals NHS Trust 
  



117 
  

Prostate Assessment 
  

Crieff 
  

Tayside University Hospitals NHS Trust 
  



118 
  

Genito-Urinary Medicine 
  

Ninewells Hospital 
  

Tayside University Hospitals NHS Trust 
  



119 
  

Genito-Urinary Medicine 
  

Perth Royal Infirmary 
  

Tayside University Hospitals NHS Trust 
  



120 
  

Diabetes Annual Review 
  

Perth Royal Infirmary 
  

Tayside University Hospitals NHS Trust 
  



121 
  

Diabetes Annual Review 
  

Ninewells Hospital 
  

Tayside University Hospitals NHS Trust 
  



122 
  

Dermatology Biopsy Clinic 
  

Perth Royal Infirmary 
  

Tayside University Hospitals NHS Trust 
  



123 
  

Dermatology Biopsy Clinic 
  

Ninewells Hospital 
  

Tayside University Hospitals NHS Trust 
  



124 
  

Dermatology Treatment Centre 
  

Perth Royal Infirmary 
  

Tayside University Hospitals NHS Trust 
  



125 
  

Dermatology Treatment Centre 
  

Ninewells Hospital 
  

Tayside University Hospitals NHS Trust 
  



126 
  

Colposcopy 
  

Ninewells Hospital 
  

Tayside University Hospitals NHS Trust 
  



127 
  

Colposcopy 
  

Perth Royal Infirmary 
  

Tayside University Hospitals NHS Trust 
  



128 
  

Early Pregnancy Assessment 
  

Ninewells Hospital 
  

Tayside University Hospitals NHS Trust 
  



129 
  

Pain Clinic 
  

Ninewells Hospital 
  

Tayside University Hospitals NHS Trust 
  



130 
  

Pain Clinic 
  

Perth Royal Infirmary 
  

Tayside University Hospitals NHS Trust 
  



131 
  

ENT Rhinology Clinic 
  

Ninewells Hospital 
  

Tayside University Hospitals NHS Trust 
  



132 
  

ENT Aural Clinic 
  

Ninewells Hospital 
  

Tayside University Hospitals NHS Trust 
  



133 
  

ENT Allergy Clinic 
  

Ninewells Hospital 
  

Tayside University Hospitals NHS Trust 
  



134 
  

Cataract Assessment 
  

Perth Royal Infirmary 
  

Tayside University Hospitals NHS Trust 
  



135 
  

Secondary Visual Screening 
  

Perth Royal Infirmary 
  

Tayside University Hospitals NHS Trust 
  



136 
  

Secondary Visual Screening 
  

Kinross 
  

Tayside University Hospitals NHS Trust 
  



137 
  

Secondary Visual Screening 
  

Blairgowrie 
  

Tayside University Hospitals NHS Trust 
  



138 
  

Secondary Visual Screening 
  

Auchterarder 
  

Tayside University Hospitals NHS Trust 
  



139 
  

Secondary Visual Screening 
  

Crieff 
  

Tayside University Hospitals NHS Trust 
  



140 
  

Hysteroscopy Clinic 
  

Perth Royal Infirmary 
  

Tayside University Hospitals NHS Trust 
  



141 
  

Urodynamics 
  

Perth Royal Infirmary 
  

Tayside University Hospitals NHS Trust 
  



142 
  

Direct Access Echo Clinic 
  

Perth Royal Infirmary 
  

Tayside University Hospitals NHS Trust 
  



143 
  

Direct Access Exercise Testing Clinic 
  

Perth Royal Infirmary 
  

Tayside University Hospitals NHS Trust 
  



144 
  

Dermatology/Plastics Biopsy Clinic 
  

Montrose Infirmary 
  

Tayside University Hospitals NHS Trust 
  



145 
  

Minor Surgery Biopsy Clinic 
  

Stracathro Hospital 
  

Tayside University Hospitals NHS Trust 
  



146 
  

Urology - Haematuria 
  

Stracathro Hospital 
  

Tayside University Hospitals NHS Trust 
  



147 
  

Urology -Cystoscopy 
  

Stracathro Hospital 
  

Tayside University Hospitals NHS Trust 
  



148 
  

Urology - Vasectomy 
  

Stracathro Hospital 
  

Tayside University Hospitals NHS Trust 
  



149 
  

Cataracts 
  

Queen Margaret Hospital 
  

Fife Acute Hospitals NHS Trust 
  



150 
  

Orthopaedic Physiotherapy 
  

Queen Margaret Hospital 
  

Fife Acute Hospitals NHS Trust 
  



151 
  

Lung Cancer 
  

Queen Margaret Hospital 
  

Fife Acute Hospitals NHS Trust 
  



152 
  

Dermatology 
  

Queen Margaret Hospital 
  

Fife Acute Hospitals NHS Trust 
  



153 
  

Parkinson’s Disease 
  

Whyteman’s Brae Hospital 
  

Fife Acute Hospitals NHS Trust 
  



154 
  

Diabetes 
  

Victoria Hospital 
  

Fife Acute Hospitals NHS Trust 
  



155 
  

Early Pregnancy Assessment 
  

Forth Park Hospital 
  

Fife Acute Hospitals NHS Trust 
  



156 
  

Colposcopy 
  

Forth Park Hospital 
  

Fife Acute Hospitals NHS Trust 
  



157 
  

Lumps & Bumps 
  

Ballochmyle Hospital 
  

Ayrshire & Arran Acute Hospital NHS Trust 
  



158 
  

Dystonia Clinic 
  

Southern General Hospital 
  

South Glasgow University Hospitals NHS Trust 
  



159 
  

First Seizure Clinic 
  

Southern General Hospital 
  

South Glasgow University Hospitals NHS Trust 
  



160 
  

Chest Pain 
  

Southern General Hospital 
  

South Glasgow University Hospitals NHS Trust 
  



161 
  

Cardiac Clinic 
  

Southern General Hospital 
  

South Glasgow University Hospitals NHS Trust 
  



162 
  

New Diabetes Clinic 
  

Victoria Infirmary 
  

South Glasgow University Hospitals NHS Trust 
  



163 
  

Rheumatology 
  

Victoria Infirmary 
  

South Glasgow University Hospitals NHS Trust 
  



164 
  

Hand Clinic 
  

Victoria Infirmary 
  

South Glasgow University Hospitals NHS Trust 
  



165 
  

Rectal Bleeding Clinic 
  

Southern General Hospital 
  

South Glasgow University Hospitals NHS Trust 
  



166 
  

Early Pregnancy Assessment 
  

Southern General Hospital 
  

South Glasgow University Hospitals NHS Trust 
  



167 
  

Social Gynaecology Service 
  

Southern General Hospital 
  

South Glasgow University Hospitals NHS Trust 
  



168 
  

Urodynamics (Gynaecology) 
  

Hairmyres Hospital 
  

Lanarkshire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust 
  



169 
  

Anticoagulent 
  

Hairmyres Hospital 
  

Lanarkshire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust 
  



170 
  

Early Pregnancy Assessment 
  

Raigmore Hospital 
  

Highland Acute Hospitals NHS Trust 
  



171 
  

Haematuria Assessment 
  

Raigmore Hospital 
  

Highland Acute Hospitals NHS Trust 
  



172 
  

Prostrate Assessment 
  

Raigmore Hospital 
  

Highland Acute Hospitals NHS Trust 
  



173 
  

Eurodynamics 
  

Raigmore Hospital 
  

Highland Acute Hospitals NHS Trust 
  



174 
  

Breast Clinic 
  

Raigmore Hospital 
  

Highland Acute Hospitals NHS Trust 
  



175 
  

Open Access/Endoscopy Assessment 
  

Raigmore Hospital 
  

Highland Acute Hospitals NHS Trust 
  



176 
  

Chest Pain Assessment 
  

Raigmore Hospital 
  

Highland Acute Hospitals NHS Trust 
  



177 
  

Early Dementia Diagnostic Clinic 
  

Various Locations 
  

Dumfries & Galloway Primary Care NHS Trust 
  



178 
  

Enuresis Clinic 
  

Riverbank Children’s Centre 
  

Dumfries & Galloway Primary Care NHS Trust 
  



179 
  

Parkinson’s Clinic 
  

Ashludie Hospital 
  

Tayside Primary Care NHS Trust 
  



180 
  

Continence Clinic 
  

Ashludie Hospital 
  

Tayside Primary Care NHS Trust 
  



181 
  

Anti-Cholinesterase Inhibitor Clinic 
  

Murray Royal Hospital 
  

Tayside Primary Care NHS Trust 
  



182 
  

Neurovascular 
  

Borders General Hospital 
  

Borders General Hospital NHS Trust 
  



183 
  

Fits, Faints & Falls 
  

Borders General Hospital 
  

Borders General Hospital NHS Trust 
  



184 
  

Colposcopy Clinic 
  

Borders General Hospital 
  

Borders General Hospital NHS Trust 
  



185 
  

Lung Cancer Assessment 
  

Borders General Hospital 
  

Borders General Hospital NHS Trust 
  



186 
  

Cataract Clinic 
  

Borders General Hospital 
  

Borders General Hospital NHS Trust 
  



187 
  

Pregnancy Support Centre 
  

Edinburgh Royal Infirmary 
  

Lothian University Hospitals NHS Trust 
  



188 
  

Gynaecology Assessment 
  

Edinburgh Royal Infirmary 
  

Lothian University Hospitals NHS Trust 
  



189 
  

Colposcopy Clinic 
  

Edinburgh Royal Infirmary 
  

Lothian University Hospitals NHS Trust 
  



190 
  

Menstrual Problem Clinic 
  

Edinburgh Royal Infirmary 
  

Lothian University Hospitals NHS Trust 
  



191 
  

Neuro-Oncology Follow-Up Clinic 
  

Western General Hospital 
  

Lothian University Hospitals NHS Trust 
  



192 
  

Endoscopy 
  

Western General Hospital 
  

Lothian University Hospitals NHS Trust 
  



193 
  

HIV/HGPB/HGPC Testing 
  

Western General Hospital 
  

Lothian University Hospitals NHS Trust 
  



194 
  

Gastroenterology 
  

Western General Hospital 
  

Lothian University Hospitals NHS Trust 
  



195 
  

Gastroenterology 
  

Edinburgh Royal Infirmary 
  

Lothian University Hospitals NHS Trust 
  



196 
  

HIV Travel Clinic 
  

Western General Hospital 
  

Lothian University Hospitals NHS Trust 
  



197 
  

Diabetes 
  

Western General Hospital 
  

Lothian University Hospitals NHS Trust 
  



198 
  

Endocrine (Investigation Of Thyroid Disease) 
  

Western General Hospital 
  

Lothian University Hospitals NHS Trust 
  



199 
  

Medical Assessment (DVT Open Access) 
  

Western General Hospital 
  

Lothian University Hospitals NHS Trust 
  



200 
  

Rapid Access Chest Pain Clinic 
  

Arbroath Infirmary 
  

Tayside Primary Care NHS Trust 
  



201 
  

Plastic Surgery 
  

St Andrew’s Hospital 
  

Fife Primary Care NHS Trust 
  



202 
  

Memory Clinic 
  

St Andrew’s Hospital 
  

Fife Primary Care NHS Trust 
  



203 
  

Epilepsy 
  

Royal Hospital for Sick Children 
  

Yorkhill NHS Trust

Health

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-12216 by Susan Deacon on 21 February 2001, when the Clinical Standards Board for Scotland will set out the service standards on infection control, cleanliness and other matters.

Susan Deacon: Work by an expert group to develop draft standards on infection control, decontamination of medical devices and environmental hygiene is currently under way. We expect draft standards to be produced shortly. The drafts will be reviewed by the Clinical Standards Board for Scotland and will then be released for consultation, piloting and implementation by NHSScotland in the course of this year.

Health

Margaret Jamieson (Kilmarnock and Loudoun) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how it will ensure the co-ordination of the views of infertility sufferers following the cessation of funding for the National Infertility Support Network.

Susan Deacon: The Scottish Executive has agreed to provide core funding towards the administrative costs of Child Infertility Network Scotland for a three-year period commencing 2000-01. This will enable them to continue providing the service which was previously provided by CHILD, the National Infertility Support Network.

Health Promotion

Dr Richard Simpson (Ochil) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what performance management and best practice criteria it has put in place in relation to the £26 million tobacco money to be applied to health promotion; how much of this money is being spent on tobacco-related initiatives, and whether it will list these initiatives.

Malcolm Chisholm: As with all initiatives to improve health, the operational arrangements for those supported by the Health Improvement Fund depend on their nature. The bulk of the fund’s resources are being channelled through health boards. Boards have been advised to give a full public account of how the resources are being invested, including an account of what they have helped local people to achieve, through their annual reports and the accountability review process. Boards have also been asked to provide a brief interim report to ministers on how Health Improvement Fund resources are being applied in their local areas.

  A range of media exist which facilitate the dissemination and utilisation of best practice. At national level, these media include the Healthy Scotland Convention (which is next to meet on 1 June), HEBSWeb (www.hebs.scot.nhs.uk) and SHOW (www.show.scot.nhs.uk) with the FORUM newsletter.

  Health boards have been advised that, in determining how to invest their Health Improvement Fund allocations, they should give a high priority to tobacco-related initiatives. However, in order to best reflect local priorities, boards have also been given considerable flexibility in making investment decisions and at this stage, therefore, it is not possible to detail the tobacco-related initiatives that are being undertaken.

  In addition to work being undertaken by the health boards, the Health Improvement Fund is also enabling tobacco-related initiatives to be undertaken by the Health Education Board for Scotland.

  The initiatives supported by the Health Improvement Fund are additional to the range of work already being undertaken. For example, in addition to the Health Improvement Fund monies, health boards were allocated an additional £1 million in each of the three years from April 1999 to spend on smoking cessation services.

Housing

David Mundell (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive, with regard to the announcement on 26 February 2001 by Ms Margaret Curran of £15 million additional funding for councils to help prepare for the introduction of the new "Supporting People" regime in April 2003, what percentage of this and what amount will go to Dumfries and Galloway and what this amount is in cash terms.

Jackie Baillie: We will announce the allocations to individual local authorities shortly.

Justice

Phil Gallie (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive which district courts Mr Shiels visited in the course of compiling his report.

Mr Jim Wallace: As explained in the answer to question S1W-13131, the Secretary of Commissions met various groups of Justices of the Peace. These meetings were held, at their request, in Edinburgh, Glasgow, Cumbernauld, Dumbarton and Giffnock.

Land

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how community land buy-out projects will raise the required capital resources necessary for good stewardship and efficient management of land.

Mr Jim Wallace: It is for individual community bodies to decide how they will raise the required capital. There are sources of financial assistance and advice available to community bodies contemplating land purchases e.g. the New Opportunity Fund’s recently launched Scottish Land Fund and Scottish Enterprise and Highlands & Islands Enterprise Community Land Units.

  In relation to ensuring good stewardship and efficient management of land, the community right to buy provisions of the draft Land Reform (Scotland) Bill set out the requirements and identify the criteria for the purchase of land. For example, they require community bodies to be representative of the local community; to have plans for the land that are compatible with its sustainable development and to demonstrate that purchases would be in the public interest.

Legislation

Tricia Marwick (Mid Scotland and Fife) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether any Executive Bill has been drafted in whole or in part by an outside agency.

Mr Tom McCabe: No.

Maternity Services

Dr Elaine Murray (Dumfries) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether maternity services will be considered as a special project under the Scottish Telemedicine Initiative and whether financing of such a project would come from the £5 million which the Executive is investing in telemedicine.

Susan Deacon: In A Framework for maternity services in Scotland , published in February, the need for consideration to be given to the inclusion of maternity services as a specific project under the Scottish Telemedicine Initiative was recognised in the implementation strategy. The Remote and Rural Areas Resource Initiative (RARARI) has been invited to bring forward proposals to be considered by the Scottish Telemedicine Action Forum (STAF), which oversees the development of telemedicine. STAF has invited proposals from all professional groups and other appropriate parties (including patient representative groups working in collaboration with clinical teams). National funding is available to encourage collaborative projects bringing together professionals from two or more health board areas or across specialities, disciplines or sectors.

Ministerial Correspondence

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive when the First Minister will reply to the letter of 30 January 2001 from the South Lanarkshire Tenants’ Federation.

Ms Margaret Curran: A reply to South Lanarkshire Tenants’ Federation was issued on 14 March 2001.

Ministers

Lord James Douglas-Hamilton (Lothians) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the failure of the Deputy Minister for Education, Europe and External Affairs to vote, although present at Decision Time, in support of its policy on amendment S1M-1725.1 to motion S1M-1725 on Scotland’s Fishing Industry was a breach of paragraph 2.4 of the Scottish Ministerial Code, which relates to the collective responsibility of junior Scottish ministers.

Nicol Stephen: I voted on all three divisions in line with Executive policy. However, my vote on the second division appears not to have been recorded by the electronic voting system. I have written to the Presiding Officer about the matter.

Nursery Education

Mr Mike Rumbles (West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans to review the pay and conditions of service of qualified nursery nurses.

Nicol Stephen: I refer the member to the answer given to question S1O-3109 on 15 March 2001.

Prison Service

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the total value of the renumeration package received by the Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service has been, showing (a) the gross salary, (b) expenses received, (c) the value of pensions benefits and (d) other entitlements, broken down for each of the last five years and the current year.

Mr Jim Wallace: I have asked Mr Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:

  The available information is given in the Scottish Prison Service Annual Report and Accounts, save as respects reimbursement of travel and subsistence expenditure, which is on the same basis as for other staff.

Renewable Energy

Mr Kenny MacAskill (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what funding has been made available for biomass as a renewable energy source in each year since 1997 and what funding is planned in the future.

Ms Wendy Alexander: Support for research and development in biomass, as for all renewable technologies, is a reserved matter and is the responsibility of the Department of Trade and Industry.

  Of the three biomass projects awarded contracts as a result of the three Orders comprising the Scottish Renewables Obligation, only one has been commissioned so far. The level of financial support for that project from the Fossil Fuel Levy in Scotland is subject to commercial confidentiality.

Renewable Energy

Dr Sylvia Jackson (Stirling) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what its role is in relation to the promotion of renewable energy and how the £12.9 million allocated to the Scottish Renewables Obligation in 1999-2000 was spent on (a) wind power, (b) wave power, (c) solar power, (d) biomass and (e) energy from waste projects, listing each project funded.

Ms Wendy Alexander: The Scottish Executive has executively devolved powers to promote renewable energy in Scotland under the Electricity Act 1989, as amended by the Utilities Act 2000.

  The Scottish Renewables Obligation (SRO) has run since 1994, and the £12.9 million allocated to it in the Scottish Executive budget for the current year is a notional sum to cover the additional costs of renewable energy produced from SRO contracted projects. It represents the best estimate of the industry regulator, the Office of Gas and Electricity Markets (Ofgem), of the amount required to be raised in the current year under the Fossil Fuel Levy to recompense the two Scottish public electricity suppliers for the contracts they were statutorily obliged to enter into under the SRO. The information on how the Fossil Fuel Levy was disbursed to pay for individual contracts is not held by the Scottish Executive, but can be obtained from Ofgem Scotland.

Road Safety

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will make arrangements for a reduction from 40mph to 30mph in the speed limit on the section of the A830 in the Corpach area which includes the road crossing point used by children attending the Banavie Primary School; what assessment it has made of the risks to children using the crossing of the speed limit remaining at 40mph, and what representations it has received on behalf of the constituents of Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, including from the Clerk to the Banavie Primary School Board, that the current speed restrictions on this road are too high given the volume of traffic including fish and timber lorries, tourists and local traffic.

Sarah Boyack: The Scottish Executive has no plans to introduce a 30mph speed limit within the vicinity of the Banavie Primary School. The accident history, traffic flows and pedestrian movements in the Corpach area together with the existence of a School Crossing Patroller and associated signage were all considered in the assessment process. The risk to children is considered to be low.

  Scottish Executive is aware of representations made by the Kilmallie Community Council concerning this matter.

Road Safety

Mr Brian Monteith (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what measures it proposes to take to improve road safety on the Strathblane to Aberfoyle stretch of the A81.

Sarah Boyack: Local authorities are responsible for road safety on local roads in their areas. The A81 is classified as a local road and decisions on measures to improve road safety on the Strathblane to Aberfoyle stretch of that road are for Stirling Council.

Road Safety

Mr Brian Monteith (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what measures it proposes to take in the next financial year to improve road safety on the Stirling to Lochearnhead stretch of the A84.

Mr Brian Monteith (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what measures it proposes to take in the next financial year to improve road safety on the A85 between Lochearnhead and Crianlarich.

Mr Brian Monteith (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what measures it proposes to take to improve road safety on the A82 between Crianlarich and Tyndrum.

Sarah Boyack: New Operating Companies will be responsible for the trunk road network from 1 April 2001. The Scottish Executive will liaise with the companies regarding schemes to improve road safety on the trunk road network for the forthcoming financial year (2001-02).

Roads

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to consult with the communities of Mallaig and Morar in connection with the possible construction of a footpath/cycleway alongside the A830; what information it has in relation to the demand for such a footpath/cycleway, and whether this would provide a beneficial leisure facility for tourists visiting the area.

Sarah Boyack: There are no plans to consult with the communities of Mallaig and Morar in connection with the possible construction of a footway/cycleway alongside the A830. One metre wide strips on either side of the main carriageway are being provided on the new sections of the road to help cyclists.

  Under the Trunk Road Cycling Initiative (TRCI) available resources for the provision of separate cycleways continue to be directed towards assisting schemes which form part of the proposed Sustrans National Cycle Network. The A830 corridor is not a part of that programme.

Safety

Dorothy-Grace Elder (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans to introduce legislation in line with the proposals for a Safety Bill in England and Wales as announced in the Queen’s Speech.

Sarah Boyack: No. The Queen’s Speech of 6 December 2000 announced the UK Government’s intention to draft a Safety Bill. The Bill will apply across Great Britain, and in some cases the UK. Officials from the Executive and the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions are liaising closely as the drafting develops.

Scottish Executive Consultation

Ben Wallace (North-East Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-7656 by Angus MacKay on 1 December 2000, how many contracts let to external consultants and advisors in (a) 1999-2000 and (b) to date in 2000-01 were (i) put out to competitive tender; (ii) not put out to competitive tender, and (iii) let on a non-commercial basis, specifying in each case the names of the individuals or organisations which carried out work and the value of the contract, and what the total value was of all contracts in each of the categories in each of the years above.

Angus MacKay: The information requested is not held centrally. The answer to question S1W-7656 indicated that arrangements would be introduced to collect this data in future. We will begin compiling data shortly relating to contracts placed on or after 1 January 2001.

Scottish Executive Staff

Mr Kenny MacAskill (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many (a) staff were employed in its press office, (b) staff left its press office and (c) vacancies occurred in its press office in each of the last three years.

Angus MacKay: The following table outlines the number of staff employed in the Scottish Executive’s Media and Communications Group (of which the press office is one part) in each of the last three years. The numbers shown relate to all staff in the group, including those in support grades. A breakdown between Press Officers and other staff is shown for the latest year; this split is not available for the historical data.

  Staff numbers are shown as a snapshot figure at the start of each year.

  


Year 
  

1 January 1999 
  

1 January 2000 
  

1 January 2001 
  



Total Number of Staff 
  

41 
  

46 
  

57 
  



Of which: 
  
 
 
 



Press Officers 
  
 
 

30 
  



Support for Press Office 
  
 
 

14 
  



Publicity Officers 
  
 
 

4 
  



Internal Communications 
  
 
 

2 
  



Support for Internal Communications 
  
 
 

3 
  



Forward Planning 
  
 
 

3 
  



Support for Forward Planning 
  
 
 

1 
  



  The total number of staff who left the Media and Communications Group during the last three years is illustrated in the table below.

  


Year 
  

1998 
  

1999 
  

2000 
  



Number who left the Scottish Executive 
  

3 
  

6 
  

5 
  



Number deployed elsewhere within Scottish Executive (and 
  to the Scotland Office) 
  

3 
  

14 
  

4 
  



Total 
  

6 
  

20 
  

9 
  



  Historical information on the exact number of vacancies at any given time is not retained.

Teacher Training

Michael Russell (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the cost to it is of each (a) primary, (b) secondary, (c) special educational needs and (d) Gaelic-medium education teacher training place.

Ms Wendy Alexander: For 2001-02, the units of teaching resource allocated by the Scottish Higher Education Funding Council for education are:

  


Funding subject group 
  

Unit 
  



BEd Music; BEd Technology 
  

£6,374 
  



BEd Physical Education; PGCE 
  

£6,216 
  



BEd Primary 
  

£5,514 
  



  There is no initial teacher education qualification in special educational needs. Gaelic-medium is not a separately identified subject funding group.